Six outstanding Roaring Fork Valley Residents will be honored next week by Pitkin County Commissioners for their volunteer work in Pitkin County. They were nominated by citizens to receive the Pitkin County Cares Volunteer Service Awards. Now in its 16th year, the goal of the county’s volunteer award program is to honor individuals and groups for their outstanding service, leadership and civic involvement.
The award categories include the Greg Mace Award created in memory of longtime Mountain Rescue Aspen volunteer, Greg Mace. Mace was killed during a Mountain Rescue training exercise on Maroon Bells 30 years ago.
Friends and family of the recipients will gather at a reception followed by a ceremony with the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday,November 16th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Dunaway Community Room at the Pitkin County Library. The public is invited to attend.
2016 Honorees:
Greg Mace Award: Tom McCabe
For his life-long volunteer work with Mountain Rescue Aspen, Colorado Search and Rescue, Aspen Camp School for the Deaf, and Pitkin County Council on Aging, among other programs.
Children/Youth Award: Anne Blackwell
For her volunteer mentorship as a Big Buddy to a child in the Aspen Community.
Seniors: Rita Cohen
For her volunteer work at the Pitkin County Senior Center leading an Alzheimer’s support group and for her work coordinating the Aspen Valley Hospital Pet Therapy Program.
Health Award: Jane Carey
Founder of Valley Angels and one of the originators of Your Friends For Life, organizations that assist cancer patients, the ill, and senior citizens.
Rising Stars: Elizabeth de Wetter and Mauricio Sosa
Wetter for her participation in the Buddy Program’s ‘Peer to Peer’ program.
Sosa for creating the Peace Garden at Basalt High School.
Pitkin County Commissioners will honor the recipients at a special ceremony during their regular, televised meeting on Wednesday,November 16th beginning with a reception at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be televised on CGTV Channel 11 and streamed online at www.pitkincounty.com.
Photo: Aspen student Elizabeth de Wetter, a recipient of the 'Rising Star' award, and her Little Buddy Allison.